Title: Ojoyoshu e Kai (Illustrated Guide to the Essentials of Rebirth in the Pure Land), Circa 1900. A Trio of Silk Paintings Depicting the Realms of the Afterlife, with 30 Panels
Condition: Very Good
A Meiji Period, early 20th century trio of silk paintings, entitled Ojoyoshu e kai, or, an Illustrated Guide to the Essentials of Rebirth in the Pure Land, based after the Buddhist trilogy of texts written by the Japanese monk Genshin, who lived during the tail end of the Heian era. It was considered his most well received work, for the extremely brutal detailing of Hell and the afterlife and was published several times throughout the centuries.
This set of paintings adapts his work into a series of 30 silk panels, each depicting scenes from the realms of Hell, Paradise, and the Realm of Hungry Souls. Focus can be brought to the Hell Scroll, which depicts sinners being punished and tortured in various, violent fashion.
First written in 985, the Buddhist work compiles important passages on rebirth in paradise from numerous Buddhist scriptures and treatises from the perspective of Pure Land Buddhism, consisting of three volumes. It teaches that the only way to attain rebirth in paradise after death is to single-mindedly remember Buddha and chant the Nembutsu, thereby laying the foundation for Pure Land Buddhism. Furthermore, the concepts of hell and paradise, and the spirit of aversion to the impure world and desire for the pure land, which were taught in this work, became popular among both aristocrats and commoners, and had a profound influence on later literary thought. Many sections are devoted to the difficult practice of contemplating one's own body through meditation and using this as a medium to contemplate Amida Buddha as a physical body, known as Kanso-Nenbutsu.
The paintings have been neatly mounted onto a brocade decorated kakejiku (hanging scroll), with jikusaki (knobs) made of lacquered wood. There is a wooden box to accompany them, preserving the scrolls.
Three silk paintings mounted on kakejiku (hanging scrolls), 195 x 49 cm full size, 114.5 x 35 cm main painting
This painting is in very good shape, with minor wear and slight splitting to some of the silk paintwork. Despite its age, the painting is surprisingly well preserved.